Overview:
The MLK Unity Committee will host a series of events from Friday to Monday to honor and reaffirm King’s work in equality for all.
Each year, the 10-person Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Committee organizes a series of events around King’s birthday. This year is no exception, with the addition of a tribute honoring the committee’s efforts in organizing the celebration over the years.
The festivities kick off on Friday, Jan. 17, with an opening garlanding ceremony, community awards program and a candlelight vigil, Saturday includes a Clovis Police Department community breakfast, and the events conclude on Jan. 20, the holiday observed for King, with a city march and a commemoration program.
The tribute honoring the committee’s efforts will include a gallery walk and a reception after the commemoration program on Monday.
Eric Payne, a MLK Unity Committee member, said the tribute is a testament to the efforts of many to “create a better community for all.”
“This is just one lever that I’m able to pull to help do that work,” said Payne. “I’m so fortunate to be able to work with city council members, the mayor and the board of supervisors, who are working to create a brighter Fresno.”
Payne emphasized that the events will honor various organizations and community leaders for their contributions, particularly to Black communities, as part of a collective effort to “march toward progress for a better tomorrow”—a message that continues to resonate as part of King’s legacy.
“There are significant challenges that Black families in this community are still trying to overcome which include unemployment, home ownership, and access to affordable housing and childcare,” said Payne. “We’re marching toward progress where Black families have access to equity, the playing field is leveled, and economic justice thrives in our community.”
James Lett III, chair of the MLK Unity Committee, who has been involved with the group for 25 years, said each event represents “the deep lineage and legacy” of King, aiming to keep alive his message of “equality for all of us.”
The opening garlanding ceremony will feature several Greek organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which Dr. King joined in 1952 while pursuing his doctorate at Boston University. The march pays tribute to Black lives lost during the Selma to Montgomery march, known as Bloody Sunday. The commemoration program will celebrate King’s legacy and his contributions to community, diversity, and cultural enrichment, with Wendy McCully, executive director of the FUSD Foundation, as a key participant.
Lett III said these events also honor how King came to Fresno to protest housing laws, emphasizing that his advocacy is something community members should remember even after all these years.
It’s important, Payne said, for everyone to recommit to Dr King’s values, especially in light of the “harmful rhetoric that causes division in our community.” He added that as President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office on the same day as MLK day, the community must be unified and steadfast in honoring King’s legacy.
“I hope that under President Trump’s second term, that he will yield that reminder to lift up all segments of our community across the country, but specifically those families here in the Central Valley,” said Payne.
Other M.L.K. events happening around Fresno
- Thursday, Jan.16, – West Fresno Ministerial Alliance Prayer Breakfast – 7 a.m. at Cornerstone Conference Center.
- Friday, Jan. 17 – Jazz Tribute to the Legacy of Dr. King – 9 a.m. to noon – A radio tribute to the legacy of Dr. King through commentary and music composed and recorded by jazz artists who supported the Civil Rights Movement. Listen on 90.7 FM, Kfsr.org, Tune-In Radio Fresno State.
- Friday, Jan. 17 – Dr. King Commemoration at Fresno State from noon to 1 p.m. at the Fresno State Peace Garden. In addition to the commemoration, there will be a small exhibit located in the Cross Cultural and Gender Center depicting MLK’s journey. Light refreshments will be provided.
- Sunday, Jan. 19 – Fresno City College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration at 2 p.m. Join Interim Fresno City College President Dr. Kim Armstrong and Pastor Ed Thomas as they gather to commemorate Dr. King’s 1964 march for civil rights at Ratcliffe Stadium. Marchers will meet in front of the courtyard near the President’s Office at Fresno City College.
